visas after graduation presented by carolyn lee and kristal ozman of the miller mayer law firm and...

Visas After Graduation

Presented by Carolyn Lee and Kristal Ozman of the Miller Mayer law firm

and ISSO Staff

Visas After Graduation

• Job Search Resources & F1 / J1 Work Authorization

- Sarah Hilsman

• Visas After Graduation

-Miller Mayer Law Firm

I NEED A JOB!

Cornell Career Services

Talk with the Career Services Office in 203 Barnes Hall

• Or you can set up an appointment at

255-5221

• Email: career@cornell.edu

Register on Cornell CareerNet (CCNet) !

http://www.career.cornell.edu/CCNet.html

CCNet includes:• job and internship postings from companies,

agencies, and other organizations seeking Cornell students.

• these include paid and unpaid, regional, national, and international positions—full-time as well as short-term (fall, winter, spring, or summer).

Mock Job Interviews

• Get assistance understanding the nuances of US culture and the art of self promotion.

• Students may arrange to practice their skills through simulated interviews, available in Career Services and in several of the college career services offices.

• Set up an appointment with Cornell Career Services, 103 Barnes Hall. 255-5221

Your College or Professional Program’s Career Office

• Career Advice related to your academic major or field

• Career Counseling (ALS, A&S, HE)• Resume and Cover Letter Critiques• Mock Interviews (ALS, ILR, ENG, HE)• On-campus recruiting specific to your college

(ENG, ILR, ALS, AAP, Chem/Physics PhD)• Print and Other Resources

Work Authorizationfor

F-1 & J-1 Students

Work Authorizationfor F-1 & J-1 Students

• “Maintaining” status • F1 Practical Training• J-1 Academic Training

“Maintaining your status”To maintain valid status

F1 & J1 students must: • Enroll full time• Update your address when you move• Keep your documents valid: extend I-20!• Do NOT work off campus without

authorization

F1 Off Campus Work Authorization

• After being enrolled full time for 1 full academic year

• Practical Training in your field of study – Curricular Practical Training– Optional Practical Training

F1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

• Must receive academic credit in a course

• Or work must be a required part of degree program

F1 CPT Timing Issues

• May only be used before graduation, while still in degree program

• CPT will NOT effect OPT unless you have 12 full months of full time CPT

F1 CPT Application Procedures

• Must have job offer in order to apply

• Pick up CPT application packet from the ISSO or download from our web site: www.isso.cornell.edu

• Bring completed application to the ISSO

• MUST get work authorization prior to working!!

F1 CPT Authorization

• ISSO Advisor will issue you a new I-20 with work authorization on page 3

F1 Optional Practical Training (OPT)

F1 Optional Practical Training (OPT)

• After being enrolled full time for 1 academic year

• Practical training in your field/major• Not employer-specific so you may

change jobs during that year

• You are still in F1 status while on OPT

F1 OPT Timing Issues

• 12 months total per degree level (but not cumulative)

• May be used before you graduate or after graduation

• Time used before graduation is deducted from the 12 months

• There are two ways to extend OPT beyond the 12 months

F1 OPT ApplicationProcedures: Apply Early

• Do NOT need job offer to apply

• Pick up application from ISSO or download from our web site.

• Bring completed application to the ISSO. We will create a new I-20 and you will send your application to USCIS.

F1 OPT ApplicationProcedures: Apply Early

You CAN apply:– No more than 3 months ahead of graduating (or

last day of registration for advanced grad students)

– No later than 60 days past graduating– Not more than 120 days before the start date

you choose– It can take 3 months to receive OPT card

• May not start working until you receive the EAD card

• And may not start working until the start date listed on the EAD card

Program end date

05/25/2014

60-day grace period

7/25/2014

You choose your OPT start date—any day within the 60

days after you complete program

Example: 7/1/2014

12 months OPT

• Apply no more than 3 months before you graduate,

• Not earlier than 120 days before your chosen start date,

• And no more than 60 days after graduation!

• Also must send app within 30 days of getting I-20 from the ISSO

6/30/2015

Apply 3/1/2014

Your OPT Time-Line

• As you near the end of your OPT, there are two possible ways to extend your OPT time:

• “STEM” extension (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math), or

• “H1B Cap Gap” extension

Extending OPT?

• If you are graduating in a “STEM” field (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math—more detailed list is available on our website) currently (can’t be previous degree)

• AND, your employer is enrolled in the “E-Verify” program

• You will be eligible to apply for a 17 month extension of your F-1 OPT

One Time 17 month extension of OPT

• May only apply for this once you have received and are on your first 12 month period of OPT

• “one time” meaning you can only get this 17 month extension once… if you go back to school for a higher degree, you will have 12 more months of OPT but not another STEM extension

One Time 17 month extension of OPT

A VERY BRIEF explanation….

H1B Cap Gap Extension

• Because of the limit on the number of H1Bs, called the H1B “Cap”, there may be a gap between the end of your OPT and the beginning of your H1B

EXAMPLE:

• OPT end date: 6/30/2015

• H1B start date: 10/01/2015

USCIS has covered this gap for you

H1B Cap Gap Extension

• If you are on OPT,

• and your employer applies for an H1B for you,

• And you get a receipt notice or an approval

• And your OPT ends prior to October 1st

• Your OPT will be AUTOMATICALLY EXTENDED until October 1st of that year (which will be the start date of your H1B)

H1B Cap Gap Extension

• You will be required to notify us of the following information while you are on OPT:

• your residential address

• your employer’s name and address

• your start and end date of every job

Reporting Requirements while you are on OPT

• If you get the 17 extra months of OPT, you will be required to provide additional information:

• job title and your email address

• supervisor’s name and contact info

• 6 month updates of everything

Reporting Requirements while you are 17 month

extension of OPT

• Only allowed a total of 90 days of unemployment on 12 months of OPT

• Only allowed a total of 120 days of unemployment if you get the 17 month extension

Limit on days you can be unemployed!

• Unpaid employment counts !!! (can be part time) e.g. research for your advisor!!!!

• “Self employed” business owner counts but must have “proper business licenses”

What counts as Employment?

F1 OPT & TRAVEL

ONCE YOU HAVE APPLIED:

• Can travel out of U.S. at spring break and re-enter with usual F1 documents

• After graduation or close to graduation, you MUST have either the OPT card OR the receipt notice for your OPT application

• AND proof of employment in ADDITION to all the usual F1 travel documents

F1 OPT & TRAVEL

Documents required for travel while on Post-completion OPT:

• valid passport• current unexpired F-1 visa stamp (Getting a new F-1

visa can be a challenge on OPT!)• I-20 signed within the last 6 months• EAD (OPT card) or receipt notice• job offer letter or letter confirming current

employment

F1 OPT & TRAVEL

DO NOT re-enter U.S. as a TOURIST (B1/B2 status) or any other visa status, or your OPT will be invalid!

• MUST ENTER AS F-1 STUDENT

J1 Work Authorization• “Academic Training”

– For practical training in your field– Either in summer vacation or after

graduation

• Download or pick up application at ISSO

• Come to the ISSO to with application

J1 Academic Training

• ISSO issues you work authorization letter for “Academic Training”

• Total time available is 18 months

• Additional 18 months may be possible for postdoctoral research positions

Questions…?

ASK US!

Come to the ISSO

International Students & Scholars OfficeB-50 Caldwell Hall

Hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 9:00-4:30;

Wed: 1:00-4:30

On the web: www.isso.cornell.edu

By email: isso@cornell.edu